Quick demountable cultivator



Oct. 11, 1949. T. w. JOHNSON 23,154

QUICK DEMOUNTABLE CULTIVATOR Original Filed Nov. 6 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. HEODORE W JG'iNSON FIG. 5

ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1949.

r. w. JOHNSON Re. 23,154

QUICK DEMOUNTABLE CULTIVATOH Original Filed Nov. 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

WITNESS ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1949. T. w. JOHNSON QUICK DEMOUNTABLE CULTIVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 6, 1944 m m m m m m mw R E m m m w E 1 m 1 WITNESS cfd WW Patented Oct. 11, 1949 QUICK DEMOUNTABLE CUL'I'IVATOR Theodore W. Johnson, Des Moines, Iowa, alsignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 1ll., a corporation of Illinois Original No. 2,423,148, dated July 1, 1947, Serial No. 562,155, November 8, 1944. Application for reissue June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,471

20 Claims. (CI. 97-47) This invention relates generally to agricultural machines and more particularly to ground working implements of the type that is adapted to be mounted on and carried by a farm tractor, commonly known as integral implements.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of an implement of this type in which means is specifically provided to facilitate attaching and detaching the implement. Particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement in which the implement may be mounted on the tractor merely by driving the tractor into the implement and connecting only a small number of parts, yet, when attached, the implement is securely and rigidly mounted on and connected with the tractor so as to form an integral part thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of the present invention as embodied in a quick detachable tractor mounted cultivator.

Figure 2 is a side view of the implement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the implement shown in Figure l, the parts being illustrated in the positions they occupy when the implement is detached from the tractor, the latter being shown in the position it occupies just a moment before connection is established.

Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the connecting means, being a section taken generally along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the connection between each cultivator lifting pipe and the tractor power lift.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the tractor is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral l and is of conventional construction, embodying a frame 2 supported on dirigible front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4, the latter serving as traction means receiving power from a tractor motor i. The dirigible front wheels 3 are supported for movement about a generally vertical axis by means of a pedestal 6 to which reference will be made later.

The tractor mounted implement, which I have chosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention, is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral It and includes a specially to 2 formed attaching frame H and a plurality of cultivator rigs l2 and II, the rigs l2 being laterally outer rigs and the rigs it being laterally inner rigs. The attaching frame ll comprises a pair of side bars l4 and it, each formed adjacent its forward end with a vertical sleeve or bushing It, the latter preferably being in the form of a short section of pipe welded or otherwise fixed to the front end of the associated side frame member. A tool-receiving part in the form of a draft bar I! is secured, as by welding or the like, to an attaching plate It, and the latter is apertured to receive bolts it or the like by which each attaching plate is securely fixed to the intermediate portion of the associated side frame members l4 and It. The forward ends of the side frame members l4 and ii are pivotally connected to a central attaching yoke 2| that comprises a central bar 22 and yoke members 22 and 24, the latter members being normally disposed in a vertical position and apertured to receive the lower ends of pivot rods 25 that extend through the ends of the yoke members 23 and 24 and through the pipe sections it to which the forward ends of the frame members l4 and it are welded. As best shown in Figure 1, the pivot rods 25 extend upwardly and at their upper ends are connected by a tie strap 28 which is apertured at its outer ends to receive the upper ends of the pivot rods 25 and centrally is provided with a notch II which engages over a central V-shaped ridge 22 formed on the pedestal 8. The upper ends of the pivot rods 25 also receive the eye sections 23 of a pair of substantially inextensible connections in the form of brace rods l4 which at their outer ends are adjustably connected to a bracket plate It. The rods 34, together. with the tie strap 29 and the vertically extending upper portions of the pivot rods 25, constitute bracing means which extends across from one draft bar ii to the other. The centrally disposed tie strap or bracing member 29 constitutes the central portion of the bracing means and is disposed above the transverse connecting member or yoke 2|, being maintained in that position by the vertically extending upper portions of the pivot rods 25, as best shown in Figure 1. The brackets 35 are welded to the outer ends of the draft bars II, and a second pair of braces 31 are also adiustably connected to the brackets 35 and at their inner ends are formed with eye sections it which receive the pivot rods 25 and lie lust above the yoke members 23 and 24. Preferably, the outer ends of each of the brace rods 34 and 31 are threaded, as at 4|, and receive lock nuts 2 by which the position of the rods relative to the bracket may be adjusted as desired.

So far as the present invention is concerned, the cultivator ri'gs I2 and I! are largely conventional. Each rig, as best shown in Figure 2, includes one or more shovels I! connected to the lower ends of shanks or standards III which, at their upper ends, are connected by clamps l1 and II to a rig beam 48.

The rig beam 49 of each rig is connected to the associated draft bar l1 by a pair of links and suitable attaching members. Preferably, the latter include right and left hand coupling plates which, at their lower edges, are curved to fit around the associated rig beam 49 (Figure 2) and apertured to receive a pair of bolts 52 by which the coupling plates ii are rigidly fixed to the rig beam. The coupling plates 5| are apertured to receive pivot bolts 54 and II, the latter being adjustable in a longitudinal direction by virtue of slots 58 formed in the coupling plates 5|. A lower link 58 is pivoted on the bolt M and an upper link 59 is pivoted on the upper bolts 55. The forward ends of the links BI and 59 are pivotally connected, as at El and 82, to upper and lower portions of an associated rig hanger 83. Each rig hanger 82 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart plates 54 and 65 (Figure 3) clamped to the associated draft bar by U-bolts it or other suitable means. One of the plates making up the rig hanger 03 is extended upwardly, as at 88 (Figure 2), and is apertured to form a support for a lifting shaft 1! which, as best shown in Figure 3, receives a plurality of lifting arms 12, one for each rig associated with that draft bar. Each lifting arm 12 is connected with the lower link 58 of the associated rig by means of a. lifting rod 14 pivotally connected at its lower end with the lower rig is and connected at its upper end by a trunnion or the like with the rear end of the associated lifting arm 12. By rocking the rockshafts H in one direction or the other, the rigs l2 and I2 may be raised or lowered, as desired. For rocking each lifting rockshaft 1| I provide an arm 16 on each lifting rockshaft 12, each arm extending generally upwardly therefrom, as best shown in Figure 1, and apertured to receive a quick detachable pin 11. The latter member is clamped to the front end of a lifting pipe or other suitable member 18 which, at its rear end, is connected to an arm 19 forming a part of the tractor power lift, which is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 80 and which forms a part of the tractor i. Preferably, the rear end of the lifting pipe 1| carries a set screw collar 82 and extends through a pivot member 84 carried at the outer end of the associated lifting arm 19. The tractor power lift Ill includes a power lift shaft 86 to which the power lift arms 19 are fixed, as by clamps 81 (Figure 5) The cultivator structure II as described above is attached to the tractor I by means that will now be described. Bolted, as at 8 l to the pedestal of the tractor, is an attaching socket member indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 92. The member 92 consists of a lower section 93 having a downturned 11D portion 94, a central intermediate section 85 which is apertured to receive the bolts 8|, and a pair of upper sections 96 and 91, these latter sections having upturned ends 98. The upper and lower sections 82, 96 and 81 of the socket member 92 are apertured, as at II. The spacing between the yoke sections it and 96, 91, is Just sumcient to receive therebetween the cultivator connecting member 22 (Figure l), and the apertures [M are so spaced that when the attaching member 22 is seated in the socket member I2. a ball I" (Figure i) may be dropped through the openings ill for the purpose of holding the attaching member 22 in the socket member 82. The lip portions ll and 82 on the socket member 02 serve the important purpose of guiding the tractor and cultivator into proper attaching relations when drivin the tractor forwardly into the cultivator, as illustrated in Figure 3. The rear ends of the frame members II and ii are apertured, as at I" (Figure 3) so as to be engageable over a pair of studs llli which are carried by the frame 2 of the tractor. Preferably, the frame 2 of the tractor includes relatively heavy angle members I01 to the outer vertical flanges of which the studs III! are rigidly secured. as by welding or the like. Preferably, the ends of the studs I08 are tapered, as indicated at I", to facilitate attaching the frame bars II and II to the tractor. The rear ends of the frame bars I4 and II are provided with pairs of apertured lugs Ill and H2 to receive a U-shaped member H2 (Figure 4) which, after the cultivator frame bars fl and ii are connected to the tractor, may be dropped through the openings in the lugs Ill and H2 and over the vertical flange of the tractor frame angle ill1, thus securing the cultivator frame bars I and I5 against accidental displacement or detachment from the tractor.

The operation of the present invention is believed to be clear from the above description. Briefly, Figures 1 and 2 show the cultivator attached in position on the tractor. When 'in operating position the pivots M, 55, Si and 62 are sufficiently loose to permit the tools to move freely up and down relative to the tractor. However, when it is desired to disconnect the cultivator from the tractor, one of the above-mentioned pivots, such as the pivot 82, is tightened sufficiently to prevent the frame and associated parts of the cultivator from falling to the ground when the tractor is removed. After the pivots, such as the pivots 82, are tightened, the farmer readily detaches the cultivator from the tractor by first lifting the attaching pins H3 off of the tractor angles Hi1, removing the securing bail I03 at the front, and then manually swinging the two sets of cultivators away from the tractor to the positions shown in Figure 3, thus disconnecting the rear ends of the frame bars l4 and it from the tractor studs I06, and lastly, disconnecting the quick detachable pins 11 and removing the lift pipes from the cultivator rig lifting arms 16, after which the lifting pipes 12 may be slid forwardly out of the pivot members 84 (Figure 5). All of this may be done in the matter of a minute or two, after which the tractor is free to be backed away from the cultivator, leaving the latter setting on the ground in substantially the position shown in Figure 3.

To reconnect the cultivator to the tractor, substantially the reverse of the above-mentioned steps is all that is necessary. Properly lining up the tractor, the same is driven into the cultivator, as illustrated in Figure 3, the flaring portions 82 and ll of the attaching member 92 guiding the tractor so that as it is driven forwardly the cultivator attaching bar 22 seats in the socket member 92. If the tractor is moved forwardly with some momentum, the cultivator rigs swing back against the sides of the tractor automatically engaging the studs in the openings I05 without requiring that the farmer actually shifts the cultivators around into position. The securing pins I 08 are then dropped over the flange of the tractor frame angles I01 and the securing bail Ill dropped in position. Then by connecting up the lifting pipes 18 the cultivator is ready for use after loosening the pivot bolt that was tightened to prevent the frame and associated parts of the cultivator from falling to the ground. The seating of the cultivator attaching member 22 in the socket member 92 and the attachment at the rear ends of the frame bars l4 and I5 serve to form a rigid and secure connection between the two sets of cultivator rigs and the tractor. Any tendency for the draft bars I! to be displaced upwardly or downwardly is resisted, first, by the cross structure provided by the braces 3i and the connecting strap 29, and second, by the engagement of the V-shaped edge 32 on the tractor pedestal in the complementarily formed notch M on the connecting strap 29.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which 'the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tractor-propelled implement comprising a pair of spaced apart frame sections adapted to receive a tractor therebetween, a central attaching member connected at its ends directly to said frame sections, means on the front of a tractor to receive said attaching member, detachable means for fixing the rear portions of said frame sections to the tractor whereby said sections may be supported on said tractor, and a tool-receiving part fixed rigidly to each of said frame sections rearwardly of the points of connection of said frame sections to said central attaching member and extending generally laterally outwardly therefrom.

2. A tractor-mounted implement comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart frame sections, a central attaching member disposed between said sections, means hingedly connecting said central attaching member at its ends with said frame sections so as to be rigid in a, vertical direction, toolreceiving draft bars fixed to said frame sections rearwardly of their hinged conection with said central frame sections, said frame sections being adapted to lie alongside the sides of the tractor, means serving as a socket member on the tractor to receive said central member, quick detachable means for holding said member in said socket, and bracing means extending from the outer ends of said draft bars to said central attaching memher.

3. A tractor-mounted agricultural implement comprising tool supporting means including laterally spaced apart side sections adapted to receive a tractor in the space between said sections, a transverse connecting member for connecting said sections across the front of the tractor and adapted to be detachably connected with the tractor, transverse bracing means removable from the tractor with said frame sections and includin means extending across from one section to the other, the central portion of said bracing means lying above said transverse connecting member, vertically extending means connecting said central portion of the bracing means with said transverse connecting member, and means connecting said transverse bracing means with the tractor so as to prevent lateral tilting of either section with respect to the tractor about longitudinal axes.

4. A tractor-mounted implement comprising a pair of side frame members, a central member to the outer ends of which the forward ends of said side frame members are hingedly connected for movement about vertical axes disposed adjacent the forward ends of said side frame members, when mounting the implement on the tractor, a laterally outwardly extending draft bar rigidly fixed at its inner end to each of said frame members, means on the front of the tractor detachably receiving said central member, and means on the sides of the tractor detachably receiving said side frame members.

5. A quick detachable tractor-mounted cultivator comprising an articulated frame structure including laterally outwardly extending draft bars and side frame members to which the inner ends of said draft bars are fixed and a center member to which said side frame members are hingedly connected so as to be rigid in a generally vertical direction and arranged for movement about vertical axes lying substantially directly in front of the laterally inner ends of said draft bars, quick detachable means connecting the center member of said articulated frame structure to the front end of the tractor, and quick detachable means connecting said side frame members to the sides of the tractor.

6. A quick detachable tractor-mounted cultivator comprising an articulated frame structure including a center member and laterally outwardly extending draft bars hingedly connected to the center member, quick detachable means connecting the center member of said articulated frame structure and the inner ends of said draft bars to the tractor, bracing means connecting the outer ends of said draft bars and reenforcing them against vertical displacement relative to the tractor, and cultivator rigs connected with said draft bars.

'7. In a quick detachable tractor-mounted cultivator, rig supporting means comprising a pair of side frame members adapted to lie alongside the sides of the tractor, draft bars rigidly connected at their inner ends to said side frame members. a central attaching member connected with the forward ends of said side frame members for hinging movement about vertical axes disposed generally at the forward sides of the inner ends of said draft bars, respectively, and a socket member adapted to be mounted on the tractor for receiving said central member in draft transmitting relation.

8. In a quick detachable tractor-mounted cultivator, a frame structure adapted to be detachably connected with the tractor and comprising a central member having vertically arranged yokes at its ends, a pair of binge pins carried by said yokes and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, frame members hingedly connected to said central attaching member by the lower portions of said hinge pins, draft bars fixed at their inner ends respectively. to said frame members adjacent their forward ends, bracing members connecting the upper ends of said hinge pins, respectively, with the outer ends of said draft bars, and an anchoring strap connecting the upper ends of said hinge pins together.

9. The combination with a tractor having a socket member at its forward end, of an implement attachment adapted to be mounted on the tractor comprising a central member and a pair of laterally spaced ide frame members hingedly connected at their forward ends to the central member, whereby said side frame members are adapted to embrace the forward end of the tractor and to be swung relative thereto into and out or embracing relation about a vertical axis lying substantially at the front end of the tractor. said central member being adapted to be seated in said tractor carried socket member, detachable means for fixedly connecting the rear portions of said side members to the ides of the tractor, and means for holding the rear portions of said side members connected to the sides of the tractor.

10. The combination with a tractor having a socket member at its forward end and laterally outwardly extending attaching studs at the sides thereof, of an implement attachment adapted to be mounted on the tractor comprising a central member and a pair of lateral side frame members hingedly connected to the central member, said central member being adapted to be seated in said tractor carried socket member, the rear portions of said side members being apertured to permit connecting them to the tractor over said studs, and means for holding the rear portions of said side members on said studs.

11. In a quick detachable tractor mounted implement attachment, a frame structure adapted to be detachably connected with the tractor and comprising a central member, laterally disposed frame members hingedly connected with said central attaching member and adapted to lie alongside the sides of the tractor. draft bars fixed at their inner ends, respectively to the frame members, an upper central member, and bracing members connecting the outer ends of said draft bars with said upper central member so as to react against the tractor for preventing upward tilting of the outer ends of the draft bars relative to the tractor.

12. A quick detachable agricultural implement adapted to be mounted on a tractor, comprising tool supporting means detachably associated with the tractor and including a transverse member having a length substantially the same as the width of the tractor at the front thereof, a pair of side members pivotally connected at their for ward ends with the ends of the transverse member and adapted to be disposed in contact with the sides of the tractor and to lie alongside the sides of the tractor when attached thereto, means on the tractor to receive the transverse member. and means for fixing the rear ends of said side members to the sides of the tractor.

13. A quick detachable agricultural implement adapted to be mounted on a tractor, comprising tool supporting means detachably associated with the tractor and including a pair of transverse members, one disposed above the other, a pair of laterally disposed side frame members adapted to be connected to the sides of the tractor and hingedly connected at their forward ends with the ends of the lower transverse member, a laterally outwardly extending draft bar rigidly fixed at its inner end to each of the side frame members. and substantially inextensible connections extending from the outer ends of said draft bars upwardly and pivotally connected to the ends of said upper transverse member substantially in line with the axes of the lower hinge connection between the ends of the side frame members and the lower transverse member.

14. The combination with a tractor having an attachment receiving member, of an implement attachment adapted to be mounted on the tractor comprising a central member and a pair of side frame members spaced apart laterally and hingedly connected at their forward ends to the central member for movement relative thereto about laterally spaced substantially vertical axes lying in the vertical fore and aft extending planes. respectively. of said side frame members, said central member being adapted to be seated on said tractor carried attachment receiving member, and means for rigidly fixing said side frame members to the sides of the tractor.

15. An implement attachment adapted to be connected with a tractor having an attachment receiving member at its forward end, said implement attachment comprising a central member and a pair of side frame members spaced apart laterally and hingedly connected at their forward ends to the central member for movement rela tive thereto about laterally spaced substantially vertical axes lying in the vertical fore and aft extending planes, respectively. of said side frame members, said central member being adapted to be seated on said tractor carried attachment receiving member, means for rigidly fixing said side frame members to the tractor, and implement units carried by said side frame members.

16. An implement attachment adapted to be mounted on a tractor having an attachment receiving member at its forward end, said implement attachment comprising a central member, the length of said central member corresponding substantially to the width of the front of the tractor body, a pair of lateral side frame members hlngedly connected at their forward ends to the outer ends of said central member, whereby said side frame members are adapted to lie close alongside the sides of the tractor, and means for rigidly fixing said side frame members to the sides of the tractor.

17. In an implement adapted to be mounted on a tractor, a frame structure adapted to be detachably connected with the tractor and comprising a central member and laterally disposed frame members hingedly connected with said central member and adapted to extend along the sides of the tractor, laterally outwardly extending bars fixed at their inner ends, respectively, to the frame members rearwardly of their hinged connection with said central member, and bracing means extending from the ,outer portions of said bars to said central member and connected with the latter substantially at the points of hinged connection with the laterally disposed frame members.

18. The invention set forth in claim 17, further characterized by additional bracing means extending from the outer portions of said bars upwardly and inwardly and connected with the forward portion of the tractor above said central member.

19. A quick detachable cultivator comprising an articulated frame structure adapted to be mounted on a tractor and including laterally outwardly extending draft bars and side frame members to which the inner ends of said draft bars are fixed and a center member to which said side frame members are hingedly connected so as to be rigid in a generally vertical direction, cultivating tools fixed to the inner and outer portions of each of said draft bars, the axis of hinging of said center and side frame members lying adjacent the inner ends of said draft bars and laterally inwardly of at least the majority of said tools, means connecting the center member of said articulated frame structure to the front end of the tractor, and quick detachable means connecting said side frame members to the sides of the tractor.

20. An implement adapted to be mounted on a tractor and comprising an articulated frame adapted to be mounted on the tractor and comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart frame sections adapted to receive the tractor therebetween, a central attaching member hingedly interconnecting the forward ends of said spaced apart frame sections and disposable at the front of the tractor, means on the front of the tractor for receiving said central member and holding the same against lateral movement relative to 15 the tractor for positioning said frame sections to facilitate attachment of the implement to the tractor, detachable means for fixing said frame sections to the tractor whereby said sections may be supported on the tractor, a laterally outwardly extending tool-receiving part fixed rigidly at its inner end to each frame section at a. point spaced rearwardly of the axis of hinged connection of said central member with said frame sections. and ground-working tools fixed to each of said tool-receiving parts laterally outwardly of said axis of hinged connection, whereby when the tractor is driven into said articulated frame and the latter is supported, at least in part, on said tools, the forward movement of the tractor causes the frame sections to fold about said hinge axis into position against the sides of the tractor. THEODORE W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sra'rn's mama's Number Name Date 1,541,955 Hollenbeck June 16, 1925 80 1,854,834 Graham Apr. 19, 1932 2,092,610 Morris Sept. 7, 1937 2,200,717 Lindgren May 14, 1940 Certificate of Correction Reissue No. 23,154 October 11, 1949 THEODORE W. JOHNSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 41, after the word implement insert attachment;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may coniorm to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

